Washing Machine and Tub Cover of the Same

ABSTRACT

A washing machine capable of preventing scattering of washing water supplied to a tub through a tub cover. The washing machine is provided with a washing water supply unit that supplies the washing water to the tub cover. The washing water supply unit includes washing water inlet ports that allow the washing water to flow into the tub, and at least one anti-scattering protrusion that prevents scattering of the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet ports.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0120553, filed on Dec. 1, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to a washing machine. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a washing machine capable of preventing scattering of washing water supplied to a tub cover fixed to an upper end of a tub.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a washing machine washes the laundry by using friction between a washing water stream and the laundry, emulsification of detergent, and impact applied to the laundry from a pulsator.

Such a washing machine includes a cabinet representing an external appearance of the washing machine, a tub installed in the cabinet to store washing water therein, a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub, a water supply unit that supplies the washing water to the tub, and a detergent supply unit that stores detergent such that the detergent dissolves in the washing water during the water supply process.

A tub cover is fixed to an upper end of the tub and is provided with a washing water supply unit that receives the washing water via the detergent supply unit. The washing water supply unit is formed with a washing water inlet port through which the washing water is supplied to the tub.

However, in the conventional washing machine, when the washing water is supplied to the tub, the washing water may not be easily supplied to the washing water inlet port formed in the washing water supply unit, but scattered by colliding with the tub cover.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a washing machine capable of preventing scattering of washing water supplied to a washing water supply unit provided at a tub cover.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the disclosure are achieved by providing a washing machine including a cabinet, a tub installed in the cabinet, and a tub cover disposed at an upper end of the tub. The tub cover includes a washing water supply unit to supply the tub with washing water. The washing water supply unit includes washing water inlet ports that allow the washing water to flow into the tub, and at least one anti-scattering protrusion that prevents scattering of the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet ports.

The anti-scattering protrusion may be provided on an upper surface thereof with a guide surface that guides the washing water to prevent the scattering of the washing water, and the guide surface may have a round shape.

The guide surface may have a convex-up shape.

The guide surface may have a hemispheric shape.

The washing water supply unit may be provided with a plurality of anti-scattering protrusions, and the washing water inlet ports may be formed between the anti-scattering protrusions.

The washing water supply unit may include first guide surfaces inclined downward from upper portions of both sides of the washing water supply unit in opposition to each other, and the anti-scattering protrusion may be provided between the first guide surfaces and include second guide surfaces inclined upward toward an inner center of the washing water supply unit in opposition to each other.

The washing water inlet ports may be formed between the first guide surface and the second guide surface.

According to another aspect, there is provided a washing machine including a cabinet, a tub installed in the cabinet, and a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub, a water supply unit that supplies washing water to the tub, a detergent supply unit that mixes detergent in the washing water during a water supply process using the water supply unit, and a tub cover disposed at an upper end of the tub and provided with a washing water supply unit to receive the washing water via the detergent supply unit. The washing water supply unit includes washing water inlet ports that allow the washing water to flow into the tub, and at least one anti-scattering protrusion that prevents scattering of the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet ports.

The anti-scattering protrusion may be provided on an upper surface thereof with a guide surface that guides the washing water to prevent the scattering of the washing water, and the guide surface may have a round shape.

The washing water supply unit may be provided with a plurality of anti-scattering protrusions, and the washing water inlet ports may be formed between the anti-scattering protrusions.

The washing water supply unit may include first guide surfaces inclined downward from upper portions of both sides of the washing water supply unit in opposition to each other, and the anti-scattering protrusion may be provided between the first guide surfaces and include second guide surfaces inclined upward toward an inner center of the washing water supply unit in opposition to each other.

The washing water inlet ports may be formed between the first guide surface and the second guide surface.

The detergent supply unit may be provided corresponding to the washing water supply unit.

The detergent supply unit may include a case, and a detergent container detachably coupled to the case. The case may be provided at a bottom surface thereof with a discharge port to discharge the washing water containing the detergent to the washing water supply unit.

According to another aspect, a tub cover is disposed at an upper end of a tub in a washing machine and includes a washing water supply unit to supply the tub with washing water. The washing water supply unit includes a washing water inlet port that allows the washing water to flow into the tub, and at least one anti-scattering protrusion that prevents scattering of the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet port.

According to the washing machine as described above, the hemispheric anti-scattering protrusions are provided at the washing water supply unit, so that washing water can be prevented from being scattered when the washing water is supplied to the washing water supply unit after passing through the detergent supply unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the washing machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a tub and a tub cover of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the tub cover shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating main elements of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a tub cover of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2 according to another embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the washing machine shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Hereinafter, a washing machine according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine according to the embodiment includes a cabinet 10 representing an external appearance thereof, a tub 20 installed in the cabinet 10, a spin basket 30 rotatably installed in the tub 20, and a driving device 40 installed below the tub 20 to rotate the spin basket 30.

A cover 15 is installed at an upper portion of the cabinet 10. The cover 15 has a laundry inlet 14 such that a user can input the laundry into the spin basket 30 or take out the laundry from the spin basket 30. A door 16 is foldably coupled with the cover 15 to open and close the laundry inlet 14.

The tub 20 is installed in the cabinet 10 to receive washing water. A suspension 21 is connected with an outer surface of the tub 20 to support the tub 20 by suspending the tub 20 to the cabinet 10.

The spin basket 30 is rotatably installed in the tub 20, and is formed with a plurality of through holes 31 so that an inner space of the spin basket 30 communicates with an inner space of the tub 20.

A pulsator 35 is rotatably installed at a bottom of the spin basket 30 to stir the laundry put into the spin basket 30 together with the washing water.

The driving device 40 includes a clutch 41 that rotates the spin basket 30 and the pulsator 35, and a driving motor 43 that drives the clutch 41. At this time, the driving motor 43 is connected with the clutch 41 through a pulley and a belt to transfer driving motor to the clutch 41.

Further, the washing machine further includes a water supply unit 50 that supplies the washing water to the tub 20, detergent supply units 60 that stores detergent such that the detergent dissolves in the washing water during the water supply process, and a drain unit 70 that drains the washing water in the tub 20 out of the washing machine.

The water supply unit 50 is installed at one side of the cover 15 and includes a water supply valve 53 that controls water supply, and a water supply pipe 51 that connects the water supply valve 53 with the detergent supply units 60.

The drain unit 70 is installed at a lower side of the tub 20 to drain the washing water in the tub 20, and includes a drain pipe 73 that drains the washing water from the tub 20, and a drain pump 71 connected with the drain pipe 73.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the detergent supply units 60 are installed at rear and front ends of the cover 15, respectively. The detergent supply units 60 include a first detergent supply unit 60 a, which is installed at the rear end of the cover 15 to receive detergent used for the main washing process, and a second detergent supply unit 60 b installed at the front end of the cover 15 to receive decolorant and fabric softener.

Each of the first and second detergent supply units 60 a and 60 b includes a case 61 provided in the cover 15, and a detergent container 63 detachably coupled to the case 61 to receive the detergent, decolorant or fabric softener. A discharge port 65 is formed at a bottom surface of the case 61 to discharge the washing water, which is supplied first and second detergent supply units 60 a and 60 b and contains the detergent, to the tub 20.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, an annular tub cover 80 is fixed to an upper end of the tub 20 to cover the tub 20. The tub cover 80 includes an annular body 81, a washing water supply unit 85 disposed at one side of the body 81 to supply the washing water from the discharge ports 65 of the detergent supply units 60 to the tub 20, a guide passage 82 formed along a peripheral portion of the body 81 to prevent the washing water from being overflown when an excessive amount of the washing water is supplied to the washing water supply unit 85, and a guide port (not shown) formed at a bottom surface of the guide passage 82 to guide the washing water of the guide passage 82 into the tub 20.

As described above, the washing water supply unit 85 is provided corresponding to the detergent supply unit 60 to receive the washing water discharged from the discharge ports 65 of the detergent supply units 60. According to the embodiment, the washing water supply unit 85 is disposed below the second detergent supply unit 60 b that receives the decolorant and the fabric softener as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Although not shown in the drawings, the washing water supply unit 85 can also be disposed below the first detergent supply unit 60 a that receives the detergent used for the main washing process. Further, the detergent supply units 60 can be provided in the form of a single unit instead of the two detergent supply unit 60 a and 60 b as described above. In such a case, the washing water supply unit 85 is provided at the tub cover 80 corresponding to the single unit.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the washing water supply unit 85 includes a housing 86 nested on an upper surface of the body 81 of the tub cover 80. The housing 86 of the washing water supply unit 85 has an opened upper surface to receive the washing water via the detergent supply units 60. Further, the housing 86 of the washing water supply unit 85 is provided with a support protrusion 87, which protrudes downward from the housing 86, such that the housing 86 can be supported on the guide passage 82 of the tub cover 80. Thus, the housing 86 can be nested on the upper surface of the body 81 of the tub cover 80.

A plurality of anti-scattering protrusions 88 are provided in the housing 86 of the washing water supply unit 85 to prevent the washing water having passed through the detergent supply units 60 from being scattered. As illustrated in FIG. 4, each anti-scattering protrusion 88 has a rounded guide surface 88 a to prevent scattering of the washing water. The guide surface 88 a of the anti-scattering protrusion 88 has a convex-up shape or a hemispheric shape.

Washing water inlet ports 89 are formed between the two anti-scattering protrusions 88 such that the washing water supplied to the washing water supply unit 85 flows into the tub 20. The washing water inlet ports 89 communicate with through holes 81 a formed in the body 81 of the tub cover 80.

Hereinafter, a process in which the washing machine supplies the washing water having passed through the detergent supply units according to the embodiment will be described.

First, the washing water containing the detergent is supplied to the tub 20 in order to wash the laundry. To this end, the washing water is supplied to the cases 61 of the detergent supply units 60 through the water supply pipe 51 and the water supply valve 53 of the water supply unit 50.

The washing water supplied to the cases 61 of the detergent supply units 60 is mixed with the detergent while selectively passing through the detergent containers 63 that receive detergent, or decolorant and fabric softener. Then, the washing water is supplied to the washing water supply unit 85 of the tub cover 80 through the discharge ports 65 formed at the bottom surface of the case 61.

The washing water supplied to the washing water supply unit 85 of the tub cover 80 is introduced into the housing 86 without being scattered by the anti-scattering protrusions 88. Then, the washing water is supplied to the tub 20 though the washing water inlet ports 89 formed among the anti-scattering protrusions 88. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the washing water supplied to the washing water supply unit 85 through the above process collides with the guide surface 88 a of one anti-scattering protrusion 88 and then flows toward the adjacent anti-scattering protrusions 88, so that the washing water can be easily supplied to the washing water inlet ports 89. Further, the washing water supplied to the washing water supply unit 85 flows along the rounded surfaces of the anti-scattering protrusions 88, so that the washing water can be easily supplied to the washing water inlet ports 89.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a washing water supply unit 95 according to another embodiment includes first guide surfaces 95 a inclined downward from upper portions of both sides of the washing water supply unit 95 in opposition to each other. The washing water supply unit 95 includes an anti-scattering protrusion 98 to prevent scattering of washing water when the washing water having passed the detergent supply units 60 is supplied to the washing water supply unit 95.

The anti-scattering protrusion 98 is substantially located at the center portion of the washing water supply unit 95 and has a triangular section. Further, the anti-scattering protrusion 98 includes second guide surfaces 98 a corresponding to the first guide surfaces 95 a of the washing water supply unit 95 to prevent scattering of the washing water. The second guide surfaces 98 a are inclined upward toward the inner center of the washing water supply unit 95 in opposition to each other. In detail, the first guide surfaces 95 a are symmetrical to the second guide surfaces 98 a.

Further, washing water inlet ports 99 are formed between the first guide surface 95 a and the second guide surface 98 a, which are symmetrical to each other, such that the washing water supplied to the washing water supply unit 95 flows into the tub 20. The washing water inlet ports 99 communicate with the through holes 81 a formed in the body 81 of the tub cover 80.

Although not shown in the drawings, at least one anti-scattering protrusion 98 can be provided at the washing water supply unit 95. Such an anti-scattering protrusion 98 has a shape symmetrical to the first guide surfaces 95 a of the washing water supply unit 95 as described above. Further, the washing water inlet ports 99 can be formed between the first guide surface 95 a and the second guide surface 98 a or between the second guide surfaces 98 a adjacent to each other such that the washing water supplied to the washing water supply unit 95 flows into the tub 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the washing water supplied to the washing water supply unit 95 through the above process collides with the first guide surface 95 a of the washing water supply unit 95 or the second guide surface 98 a of the anti-scattering protrusion 98, and then flows toward the adjacent guide surface 98 a or the adjacent guide surface 95 a, so that the washing water can be easily supplied to the washing water inlet ports 99.

According to the embodiment as described above, when the washing water is supplied to the washing water supply unit 85 or 95 provided in the tub cover 80 after passing through the detergent supply units 60, scattering of the washing water can be prevented by the anti-scattering protrusion 88 or 98. Thus, the washing water can be easily supplied to the tub 20.

Although few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub installed in the cabinet; and a tub cover disposed at an upper end of the tub, wherein the tub cover includes a washing water supply unit to supply the tub with washing water, and the washing water supply unit comprises washing water inlet ports that allow the washing water to flow into the tub; and at least one anti-scattering protrusion that prevents scattering of the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet ports.
 2. The washing machine device of claim 1, wherein the anti-scattering protrusion is provided on an upper surface thereof with a guide surface that guides the washing water to prevent the scattering of the washing water, and the guide surface has a round shape.
 3. The washing machine device of claim 2, wherein the guide surface has a convex-up shape.
 4. The washing machine device of claim 2, wherein the guide surface has a hemispheric shape.
 5. The washing machine device of claim 2, wherein the washing water supply unit is provided with a plurality of anti-scattering protrusions, and the washing water inlet ports are formed between the anti-scattering protrusions.
 6. The washing machine device of claim 1, wherein the washing water supply unit comprises first guide surfaces inclined downward from upper portions of both sides of the washing water supply unit in opposition to each other, and the anti-scattering protrusion is provided between the first guide surfaces and comprises second guide surfaces inclined upward toward an inner center of the washing water supply unit in opposition to each other.
 7. The washing machine device of claim 6, wherein the washing water inlet ports are formed between the first guide surface and the second guide surface.
 8. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub installed in the cabinet; and a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub; a water supply unit that supplies washing water to the tub; a detergent supply unit that mixes detergent in the washing water during a water supply process using the water supply unit; and a tub cover disposed at an upper end of the tub and provided with a washing water supply unit to receive the washing water via the detergent supply unit, wherein the washing water supply unit comprises washing water inlet ports that allow the washing water to flow into the tub; and at least one anti-scattering protrusion that prevents scattering of the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet ports.
 9. The washing machine device of claim 8, wherein the anti-scattering protrusion is provided on an upper surface thereof with a guide surface that guides the washing water to prevent the scattering of the washing water, and the guide surface has a round shape.
 10. The washing machine device of claim 9, wherein the washing water supply unit is provided with a plurality of anti-scattering protrusions, and the washing water inlet ports are formed between the anti-scattering protrusions.
 11. The washing machine device of claim 8, wherein the washing water supply unit comprises first guide surfaces inclined downward from upper portions of both sides of the washing water supply unit in opposition to each other, and the anti-scattering protrusion is provided between the first guide surfaces and comprises second guide surfaces inclined upward toward an inner center of the washing water supply unit in opposition to each other.
 12. The washing machine device of claim 11, wherein the washing water inlet ports are formed between the first guide surface and the second guide surface.
 13. The washing machine device of claim 8, wherein the detergent supply unit is provided corresponding to the washing water supply unit.
 14. The washing machine device of claim 13, wherein the detergent supply unit comprises: a case; and a detergent container detachably coupled to the case, wherein the case is provided at a bottom surface thereof with a discharge port to discharge the washing water containing the detergent to the washing water supply unit.
 15. A tub cover disposed at an upper end of a tub in a washing machine, the tub cover comprising: a washing water supply unit to supply the tub with washing water, wherein the washing water supply unit comprises a washing water inlet port that allows the washing water to flow into the tub; and at least one anti-scattering protrusion that prevents scattering of the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet port. 